Under-mattress



Feb. 27, 1962 R. SC MUTZ 3,022,523

UNDER-MATTRESS Filed Nov. 17, 1959 f e SOLMA:

United States Patent O 3,022,523 UNDER-MATTRESS Roland Schmutz, Hauptstrasse 313 (Aargau), Zofingen, Switzerland FiledNov. 17, 1959, Sei. N0. 853,483 Cla'ims .priority, application Switzerland Nov.20, 1958 .7 :Claims. (C1. -361) This invention relates to an under-mattress of a coustrnction which obviates tl1e use cf metallic springing means.

Itzis the principal object of the invention to provide an undenmattress whichhas a well balanced springing resistance over the entire supporting surface as far as the edge in order to prevent the channel-like local depression appearing in hithero known under-mattresses in the regions exposed tothe greatest Stress in normal use.

Another object of the .invention consists in tne provision of an under-mattress including means for permitting a sufficient ventilation without inrpairing the adequate heac damming.

.Further objects residing in details of construction will be apparent from the following specification and clainas.

In the accornpanying drawing which illustrates one embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the view of the under-mattress with the uppenpart partly broken away, and

FIG. 2 shows a vertical longitudinal section through 1the undenmattress lying an a frame with legs.

The under-mattress illustrated lies on a frame 3 provided with four legs -1 and cross-pieces 2, and is subdivided into independently rocka'ole parts serving as a body support 4 and heacl rast 4', each cf which is provided witn a stable base plate 5 and 5'respectivelywhich are preferably made of plywood and on which a pressure-elastic intermediate filling of uniform tnickness, for example of porous rubber, is fastened,preferably by adhesion. This fillingis cornposed ofstrips insuch a way thatwithin an edge =6 and 6' respectively closed around its edges, air

chambers 7 and 7 respectively are provided in a practically regular distribution, these air chambers being seperated from one anotherby filling strips 8 and 8 respectively lying in 'the longitudinal direction of the mat-tress.

An elastically flexible, plate-shaped upper part 9 and 9' respectively, preferably of thin laminated plywood is glued on the intermediate filling and is subdivided by transvere slits 10 and 10 respectively into juxtaposed partial plates 11 and 11' respectively, the various adjoining partial plates being joined 011 their underside beneath the slit by means of a fabric strip 12 which is permeabls to air. The air charnbers 7 and 7' respectively are ventilated in the upward direction through these transverse slits 10 and 10' respectively and in the downward direction by holes 14 and 14' respectively in the base plates 5 and 5' respectively, these holes being coverecl by pieces of fabric 13 permeable to air, While the fabric coverings 12 and 13 prevent the enetration o1 dust and protect the air chambers 7 and 7 against external air circulation. so that the chambeis serve as insulation.

In the middle region which is exposed to the greatest load during normal use of the under-mattress, tl1e intermediate filling has in the middle air chambers 7 intermediate strips 15 cf the same material for the closer supporting of the upper part 9.

The body support 4 which can be swung up at the foot end, and the head Support 4' which can also be swung up are supported in the manner of a joint in a suitable crosspiece 18 having the rofile of a hollow arc of a circle on the frarne 3, along a transverse slit 16 bstween the upper parts 9 and 9, by rneans of bars 17 and 17' respectively having the rofile of an an: of a circle and fastened on 3,022523 Patented Feb. v2-7, 1962 ice theunderside cf 'the respective base plate 5 and 5.. At

The transverse slits 10 and 10' of the plate-shaped -upper-parts need not extend to the eclges 011 .both sides,ibut .can end at a certain distance from The;sarne.

'The andermattress can be constructed in one piece over the entire length -withoutsub-division into head and body support.

In consequence of its special construction which obviates the use of metallic springing means, Ehe Undermattress described With the elastically stiif, plate .shaped upper part has a Wall balanced springing resistance over the entire supporting surface as far as tl1e edge, while in the caseof nndermattresses of the type hitlzerto customary this resistance increases greatly from the middle towards the usually rigid eclges and has the consequence that the resting body of the user unintentionally tends to slip towards the naiddle. In contradistinction thereto, the supporting surfaceof the nnder-mattress according to the.invention can be effectively used over the full width and can therercre 'be narrower.

Particularly when using an upper-mattress having initself aclequate local elasticity, the ability of theplate-shaped upper part to b8nd as a surface, in the case of the object of the present invention, leads to tl2e combination result that the body of the user, lying on'his back, is supported 1not only at the anatornically pr.edetermined resting parts wln'ch are in the nature of centres of gravity, narnaly .the buttoeks and the shoulder blades, bat also at all other parts of the back and cf the backs of the thighs, whereby the anatomically correct position cf rest of the body is ensured, but in addition the continuous supporting of*.the back and che relieving cf the same from loads, which are important for the relaxation of the muscles, between the supporting parts acting as centres of gravity are achieved.

The construction of the under-mattress described, with air cl1ambers, serves to dam up heat and also appropriately to provide ventilation, since the upper and lower Ventilation apertures are covered by pieces 0f fabric permaable to air, in order that the air contained in the chambers shall not particpiate in tlae freecirculation of the outer air, but shall partially pass out and be replaced by suction only in accordance With the variations of the charaber volumes resulting from the loading and unloading of the mattress. Since the upper slitlike openings are considerably larger than the bottom openings, ventilation also takes place in the upward direction towards the upper mattress, thereby preventing condensation of moisture ernanating from the perspiration of the body. In addi tion, breathing also takes place in the intermediate filling, which preferably consists of porous rubber, in cousequence of the cornpression and expansion.

It is understood that the under-mattress described can also be suspended without feet in one of the hitherto custornary bedsteads.

What I claim 1's:

1. An under-mattress comprising a stable base plate adapted to be supported by a frame having legs, a platelike upper part which is elastically flexible and forms a snbstantially flat support surface for any desired type of upper-mattress, and a pressure-elastic intermediate filling supported by said base plate and carrying said upper part, said intermediate filling having an endless edge portion extending between the peripheries of said base plate and upper part and being formed inwardly of said edge portion with a plurality of air chambers, said upper part being subdivided by transverse straight slits into separate strips which have each a plate-like elastical stifiness and form together said supp0rt surface, fabric strips joining adjacent strips forming said upper part, said fabric strivs being perrneable to air and covering each one of said slits 34 along the whole length on the side of said interme'diate filling and said air charnbers, said base plate having a plurality of restricted apertures, fabric pieces which are permeable to air covering eachone of said apertures 011 the slde'of said air charnberg said fabric strips and piece's V permitting circulation of air through said slits and apartures upon compression or tension release of said umlermattress.

2. An nnder-mattress as claimed in claim 1, wherein part in regions of said filling exposed to the greatest stress in normal use.

4. An under-mattress as claimed in claim 1, wherein -the body of said under-mattress is transversally subdivided 150 form' a head end constructed to be swung up and snpported in a manner Of a joint in the form of an arc f a circle, along a cross slit of the plate-like upper part of means cf a bar having the profile of an arc of a circle.

5. An nnder-mattress com1arising, in combination, a base plate; an upper cover partformed frcm a plurality of thin plates each formed from elastically deformable material, said plates extending in transverse direction cf said under-mattress and being separated from each other by small gaps, and fabtic strips cf all permeable material extending over said gaps and joined to said plates along adjacent edges thereof; and an elastically compressible intermediate filling supported on said base plate and carrying said upper cover part, said intermediate filling having an endless edge portion extending between said a1'1' chambers for ths closr supporting' of the upper the peripheries of said base plate and upper cover part and being formed inwardly cf said edge portion with a plurality of air chambers extending between said base -plate and upper cover part in a directiqn transverse to 4 able material, said plate portions extending in transverse direction of said under-mattress and being separated from each other by small gaps, and fabric strinsnf air permaable material extending over said gaps and joined to said plate portions along acljacent edges thereof; and an elastically compressible intermediate filling supported on said base plate and carrying said upper cover part, said intermediatd filling having an endless edge portion extending between the peripheries of said base plate and uppar coverpart and being formed inwardly cf said edge portion' with a plurality 0f air charnbers extending between said base plate and uppercover part in a direction transverse to said gaps. y

7. An under-mattress comprising a Stahls base plate adapted to be supported by a frame having legs, a latelike upper part which is elastically flexible and forms a substantially flat support surface for any desired type ofupper-mattresls, and a pressure-elastic intermediate filling supported by said base plate and carrying said upper part, said intermediate filling having an enclless edge pcrtion extending between the peripheries cf said base plate and upper part and being formed inwardly of said edge portion with a plurality cf air chambers, said upper part being subdivided by transverse straight slits into plate portions which have an elastical stifiness and form together said support surface, fabric strips joining acljacent plate portions forrning said upper part,- said fabric strips being permeable to air and covering each one of said slits along the whole length on the side cf said intermediate filling and said airchambers, said base plate having a plurality cf restrict'ed apertures, fabric pieces which are permeaole to air covering eachone cf said apertures on the side of said air chambers, said fabric' strips and pieces permitting circulation cf air through said slits and aperturs upon compression or tension release of said under-mattress.

Refereuces Cited inthe file cf this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 892,334 Uhden Inne 30, 1908 2192601 Mattison Mar. 5, 1940 2,581,483 Heller Jan. 8, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 392,550 Great Britain May 15, 1933 448,806 Great Britain Inne 16 1936 

1. AN UNDER-MATTRESS COMPRISING A STABLE BASE PLATE ADAPTED TO BE SUPPOARTED BY A FRAME HAVING LEGS, A PLATELIKE UPPER PART WHICH IS ELASTICALLY FLEXIBLE AND FORMS A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT SUPPORT SURFACE FOR ANY DESIRED TYPE OF UPPER-MATTRESS, AND A PRESSURE-ELASTIC INTERMEDIATE FILLING SUPPORTED BY SAID BASE PLATE AND CARRYING SAID UPPER PART, SAID INTERMEDIATE FILLING HAVING AN ENDLESS EDGE PORTION EXTENDING BETWEEN THE PERIPHERIES OF SAID BASE PLATE AND UPPER PART AND BEING FORMED INWARDLY OF SAID EDGE PORTION WITH A PLURALITY OF AIR CHAMBERS, SAID UPPER PART BEING SUBDIVIDED BY TRANSVERSE STRAIGHT SLITS INTO SEPARATE STRIPS WHICH HAVE EACH A PLATE-LIKE ELASTICAL STIFFNESS AND 